Wellington International Leaders Upbeat As WEF 2025 Opens

Wellington International Leaders Upbeat As WEF 2025 Opens

The leaders of Wellington International gathered on the first Thursday of the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan Global Dressage Festival to celebrate the exciting season ahead at Wellington’s signature horse showgrounds.

The season will welcome returning Paris Olympians, including members of the U.S. silver medal show jumping team and gold medal dressage Paralympians, plus more than half of the world’s top 20 ranked show jumping athletes.

The 13-week season, meanwhile, will culminate in the newly introduced US Equestrian Open, elevating the profile of equestrian sports leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Murray Kessler, the new CEO of Wellington International, and Michael Stone, longtime president of Wellington International, discussed the importance of the show to the Wellington community and some of the improvements this season.

Those who have attended the Winter Equestrian Festival over the years can attest to the incredible level of growth it has sustained, both in the physical property and in the caliber of competition. Having recently taken over the reins as CEO, Kessler is proud of the venue’s accomplishments and what they bring to the table for 2025 and beyond.

“It’s not just a horse show; it’s a destination,” Kessler said. “And our vision is to keep Wellington the premier horse sports destination in the world. I take a lot of pride in the fact that Wellington International is the anchor of this community.”

He added that in 2024, the showgrounds brought $403.6 million of economic impact to Palm Beach County. “We are the No. 1 sport in Palm Beach County by far, and a lot of people count on us. We want this to be the very best experience it can be. That starts with horse sport,” Kessler said.

Kessler touched as well on the Great Charity Challenge, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, an event held under the glow of Saturday Night Lights, where riders are selected to compete for teams and contribute funds toward local charities.

Outside of the 2024 economic impact, the Great Charity Challenge provided more than $2 million in additional charitable donations for nonprofits in Palm Beach County. This year’s event will return on Saturday, Feb. 1. Learn more at www.greatcharitychallenge.com.

The final week of 2024 brought an unmatched slate of competitors to Wellington International, and the momentum seen that week continues to build as many riders worldwide choose to devote more time to the Winter Equestrian Festival each season.

“I think you’ll see us raising our game here this year,” Kessler said. “We have a lot in store, but it all starts with the horses, and I’m happy to say we anticipate that eight of the top 10 ranked riders in the world will come this season, and 35 Olympic riders between the two venues.”

Stone echoed the importance of building up the sport and attracting top talent, both for the good of the community and for every rider that competes in Wellington.

“We’re fundamentally about the sport, and we want to make the sport as good as it possibly can be,” Stone said. “The best way of doing that is having the best athletes in the world. That drives the level for the U.S. athletes. It’s the opportunity they have to compete against the very best in the world and show how good they are and how successful they can be.”

As part of the US Equestrian Open, both dressage and show jumping athletes will have the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages worldwide. The US Equestrian Open of Jumping Final, the culminating WEF event known each year as the Rolex Grand Prix, has jumped from $500,000 to $750,000 in prize money.

“Having a championship like the US Equestrian Open is perfect,” Kessler said of the new series. “We want this to feel like [golf’s] U.S. Open or Wimbledon. Major championships are an important part of the sport because it gives a much broader group of people the ability to work their way into a championship.”

WEF competition at Wellington International is underway through the end of March. The venue is open to spectators all season long. Ticketing information is available at www.wellingtoninternational.com.

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